Immunity in the elderly
Hurme, M.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 129(18): 1878-1885
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 24187778 Document Number: 663945
The increased morbidity and mortality due to infections among the elderly result from the age-associated decline of the body's defence systems. Changes in the nonspecific, i.e. innate immunity are not as strong as in the acquired, adaptive immunity. Especially T lymphocytes are functioning insufficiently: their reactivity towards their antigen diminishes and alterations take place in the proportions of their functional subgroups. Surprisingly, cytomegalovirus infection seems to be associated with these T cell alterations. In addition, "inflamm-aging", i.e. elevation of the basal level of inflammation in the absence of detectable activation, is a crucial factor.